Sections

Towns

Stanley Washburn Jr. Led Life of High Adventure

Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 8:00pm

Stanley Washburn Jr. of Edgartown died Sept. 11. He was 96 years old.

Born in Minneapolis, Minn., on Oct. 6, 1908, he was graduated from Yale in 1931. During World War II he was a pilot with cargo-carrying Air Transport Command. Shortly after, he organized the American Airship Company and co-piloted the 120-foot-long, non-rigid airship. The company's goal was to produce inexpensive airships for the Navy. The Akron, Macon and Hindenberg incidents put an end to this endeavor but not to Stanley's airborne days.

Stanley's corporate career followed with holding the position of system promotion director for Pan Am World Airlines, promoting its services, routes and destinations to 67 countries on three continents. The job entailed promotion of Pan Am's first passenger jets and corresponded with such things as the Miss Universe Pageant, Pan Am's jet North Stars and the world champion steel band featured in Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and in a unique concert at Carnegie Hall.

Stanley's unique and brilliant mind also led to such inventions as the Bongo Board and he has written countless published articles and books.

Through his work, Stanley and his wife AnnaBell Washburn led a life of high adventure on land, air and sea the world over. Stanley is remembered by his devoted wife, daughter, Nancy, son, Brodie, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild, as well as his nephews Tyler and Thomas Leinbach, who have always been a close part of the family.

Stanley's wife AnnaBell is the founder and president of P.A.W.S. of the Vineyard. In lieu of flowers you may wish to contribute to P.A.W.S., P.O. Box 1636, Edgartown, MA 02539 or Martha's Vineyard Hospital Capital Campaign, P.O. Box 1477, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.